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December 5, 2014

Tack Locker: Complete!

I am so excited to get to write this post, uh, mumbles 18 months...after starting this project.

How do people live without hatchbacks?

My tack locker went to the barn yesterday!

And if it was 2" longer, I would have had to rent a truck to get it there.

To recap, the tack locker began life in 1962 as a set of kitchen cabinets:

Which we removed in 2011 right after buying the house, because my 6'4 husband had to chop vegetables like this:

This project was an inexpensive way to keep my intense, probably creepy love affair with my miter saw and table saw going while Nick was unemployed. (Part of the reason it took so long was that I didn't always have money for materials, even with it costing so little.)

I mean, saws are great. Is there anything more thrilling than using a thing that could kill you to cut apart dead trees (besides riding a thing that could kill you over dead trees, of course)?

Using a thing that could kill you to cut apart dead trees.

Riding a thing that could kill you over dead trees.

I'm so happy with how it came out. Functionally, it's so much better than a trunk, which matters most of all in winter when the last thing you want to do is waste time digging for things you know are in there, somewhere. Most importantly, my trainer is impressed with it and loves having it in the barn (phew). I guess anything is an improvement over my old blue plastic trunk that got chewed on by a foster dog, aesthetically. I'm keeping it around for blanket storage, up in the loft.

Takeaways? I learned a lot. Like aspen is the WORST wood ever for cabinetry. It's FUZZY! That's why it was so cheap, and why I could afford it, though. Also, building stuff is time consuming. This is a fun hobby for me, but it's not for everyone.

There are pegboard hooks through his hind XC boots to keep them on the shelf.

There are things I would do differently and things that are less than professional quality, but hey, it was made with 60% recycled (read: not straight!) wood during a period of extreme financial hardship, and it's my first try at real furniture. It could have been worse!

In the upper left is a pull out drawer that holds about a measured cup of treats. Below that is a basket of medical things, and to the right of that is a rack that will hold up to 6 whips.

Handle dilemma update: I decided to leave the front handle and I'm glad I did. There's nothing better than having a nice big handle to grab with your gigantic winter gloves. It also doesn't look as much like a fridge after the trim got put on. I am also adding the side handles this weekend - didn't want to put them on til it was in place at the barn.

I wish I had taken shop in high school! I am learning as I go after becoming a homeowner and having to do things like replace trim and add door casings. I have a good mentor at work that helps me out, otherwise I would be lost.

No junk! Although I did add some not junk after taking this picture when I hung your bonnets from pushpins on the corkboard. I'm a minimalist, this is everything I need on a daily basis. Everything else goes in deep storage in the loft.

That's what I'm thinking. I also learned there are tons of pegboard accessories which are designed for workshops but are great for barn stuff too, like the whip holder. I think it's actually for screwdrivers or something.

I have no idea if you'll see this, but I am about to start on my own tack locker building adventure. What are the dimensions of your locker? I'm particularly curious about depth, because your design is pretty darn perfect for what I need. I might have just sent all of the posts to my husband as reference material :)

I don't have them offhand, but I will measure it for you when I (finally) make it out to the barn tomorrow night. It's a standard kitchen cabinet, so whatever that depth is, plus a few inches for the built-out door. Glad you like it! You'll have to share yours when it's done!